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IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 949-05
September 20, 2005

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier, who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sgt. Matthew L. Deckard, 29, of Elizabethtown, Ky., died in Baghdad, Iraq, on Sept. 16, when an improvised explosive device detonated near his M1A1 Abrams tank during patrol operations. Deckard was assigned to the 4th Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, Ga.

For further information related to this release, contact Army Public Affairs at (703) 692-2000.